Season's greetings

A quiet Christmas this year, spent with Susan, Jacob and -- for the first time in about thirty years -- my father. As ever, the festive cold was biting at the door, but it didn't dampen the spirits. Pa brought the wine, chocolates and pressies, we did the food. Esme and Luis spent Christmas with their mother in Warwick (and Hereford) and came along a few days later. Meanwhile, we three spent the cold days mostly in the house minding Jacob, with occasional walks outside when the weather permitted, and the evenings in front of the TV with a blanket across all our legs! It was like an intergenerational care home. But a happy one.

This was Jacob's first proper Christmas. Last year he was as small as a tadpole so it all passed him by. To be honest, he wasn't hugely interested this time. But that didn't stop him getting more presents than the rest of us. He learned to copy his Grandpa's funny faces and enjoyed a manly roll around on the sofa with him, too. Delightful.

With the arrival of Esme and Luis, Pa, who had been borrowing their bunk bed, returned to S'ampton and more presents were duly unwrapped. Luis seems content with his new ipod (the seventh I have bought in two years. Not for him, mind) and Esme now smells like Britney Smears, er Spears. The big two are healthy and delicious, as ever, and doubtless really looking forward to going back to school next week. Esme has begun to read the 'Twilight' trilogy I bought her (all vampires and kissin'), and Luis has downloaded every video and song on the iTunes playlist.

New Year's eve' passed last night with drunken teenage revelers waking me up, as usual, whilst awaiting their taxis (what happens to blizzard conditions when you need them?!) and Jacob happened to wake early (because of the cold, we think). So Sue and I feel like we've stayed up all night, but without any memories of festivity! Joy to the world, eh? I hope you'all had good ones, too.